Operation

There are many important
aspects of a wetland that must be considered in efforts to maintain your wetland at peak effectiveness. Operational concerns consist of the following steps from the wetland
checklist:

Step Eight: Monitoring

For the first few years of operation, regular samples (every two
weeks) should be collected from the inlet and outlet of the wetland - potentially even where water is dispersed from the property. These samples should be
tested for nitrate, phosphate, and pesticide concentrations.

Many nurseries find that the inlet area samples from the wetland
indicate overfertilization of their production area. Thus, cost savings
can be realized in decreased fertilization. After the first few years,
inlet sampling may no longer be needed.

Outlet sampling helps with water quality control over the life of the wetland and should be continued always to ensure standard
and regulation adherence.

Step Nine: Maintenance

Wetland maintenance is exceedingly simple. There are only a few things that must be done to keep the wetland in good working order. Remove willows (Salix sp.) from the wetland at regular
intervals. This can be done manually where plants are small or through
carefully targeted chemical means when larger plants are being
controlled. If willow trees are allowed to gain sufficient size, their
roots can penetrate the hard pan beneath the wetland causing it to leak
and not process as efficiently. In extreme circumstances, hard pan cracking can lead to ground water contamination.

System Lifetimes

While constructed wetlands can last for decades, they will not last forever. Nutrients
retained in wetlands may reach high enough levels that additional
measures are required to retain efficacy. Excessive sediment
accumulation may fill wetlands - requiring removal efforts. If large
levels of pesticides are collected in the wetland, they may become
toxic over time. Many wetlands, however, have been operating
continually for more than 20 years. Despite their finite life
expectancy, wetlands provide efficient water treatment for many years.

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